The Madison Dodgers have won three straight NJSIAA North 2 Group II state championships and enter the 2013 season with an impressive 37-game winning streak, the longest such streak in New Jersey and just one away from tying a school record for consecutive wins.

However, this may be head coach Chris Kubik’s biggest challenge to date.

The Dodgers lost their entire starting backfield to graduation, including 2011 All Daily Record Player of the Year Justin Goodwin, currently getting repetitions in the backfield at Rutgers.

“We’ve graduated kids before and moved on,” Kubik said. “The numbers coming back are less than before and we have a steeper hill to climb. But we know these kids are willing to work and they all want to win. It’s their turn.”

Which means that the Dodgers’ goal remains the same, namely competing for NJAC Freedom Division and North 2, Group II honors.

“There’s never been a drop off since I’ve been here,” Kubik said. “The goals are always the same. We’re not putting any pressure on these kids. We just want them to be the best they can be. We just won’t know how well they play until they get on the field.”

Leading the way is senior quarterback Sam North, who won’t be the same kind of signal caller that former starter Carson Lassiter was, but will still be an effective field general all the same.

“Sam is the leader,” Kubik said. “He knows what to do out there and is a good passer.”

Junior A.J. Schmitz will back up North and even get into some different sets.

The battle for playing time in the backfield is wide open. Senior Noah Gertler has been named a team captain and has the most experience. Seniors Pat Zimmerman and Vito Luppino will also see time, as will sophomores Dom Luppino (Vito’s brother) Zach Shupe and Joe Mobley.

The fullback is junior Dave Luttinger. None of the aforementioned backs saw considerable playing time last season.

“It’s a concern, but we have to move forward,” Kubik said. “The other kids are gone. Football is football. You eventually have to replace people.”

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Senior Darnell St. Germain is one of the top receivers. Senior Christian Scarpello, junior Chris Farrell and sophomore Mike Dalena are in the mix at receiver. Senior Dylan Gielchinsky is a sure-handed tight end.

The Dodgers’ offensive line features three returning starters in senior captains Jaywon Brown and Will Mottola and senior Mike Ubertaccio. Brown is a guard, Mottola and Ubertaccio are tackles. Ovidio Ortiz, a senior who played tackle last season, has been moved to center. Senior Yianni Kostidakis is the lone newcomer and he’s playing guard.

“I feel good about our offensive line,” Kubik said.

Defensively, Mottola and Ubertaccio return to their defensive tackle slots. Gertler, Luttinger, Gielchinsky and Vito Luppino are inside linebackers. Kubik has five different guys battling for time at outside linebacker and cornerback. St. Germain is the top defensive back.

“We’ve done a lot of things to get these kids acclimated,” Kubik said. “They are picking things up well. The newcomers are competing. We have about eight or nine guys fighting for a job. That’s not bad for competition.”

Although Kubik doesn’t discuss the lengthy winning streak, he knows that the Dodgers know about it.

“They have to be aware of it,” Kubik said. “I’d be shocked if they didn’t know. They want to keep it going. I think these kids have enjoyed what happened in the past and got a taste of what it’s all about. We don’t even discuss it. That’s something that might get discussed at the end of the year.”

So what about the Dodgers’ chances in 2013?

“I’m excited every year,” Kubik said. “We lost some great football players. The new guys have to come in and play. That’s high school football. We’re excited to be out there and see how far we can go.”

Dover is the opener and will try hard not to be victim No. 38, especially with the historical perspective involved.